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sooty mangabey

New Bird House aviaries, April 2013

This was taken before the house was opened, and before it was filled with birds. This is one of the 'rooms' in which a number of geographically-linked aviaries are to be found; each indoor-aviary has an attached outside enclosure as well.

New Bird House aviaries, April 2013
sooty mangabey, 9 Jun 2013
DelacoursLangur likes this.
    • sooty mangabey
      This was taken before the house was opened, and before it was filled with birds.

      This is one of the \'rooms\' in which a number of geographically-linked aviaries are to be found; each indoor-aviary has an attached outside enclosure as well.
    • DavidBrown
      It looks like Berlin Zoo is going through a renovation/building boom. Do they have any other projects going in addition to the new aviaries here and the renovation of the Brehm House?
    • sooty mangabey
      Remember these are two separate zoos of which you speak - the Bird House is at Berlin Zoo, and the Brehm House at Berlin Tierpark.

      The zoo has also undertaken some renovations to the bear enclosures this year. These are not dramatic, but they have been very nicely done, and will certainly improve things for the bears, and also for the viewing public.

      I believe that the proposed next major project at the zoo is for a new rhino house. This will replace the current rhino house, and also the camel house.
    • snowleopard
      How large are each of the glass cubicles? It is unusual to see a newly revamped Bird House that still has the traditional diorama-style of exhibition, and walk-through indoor jungles and enclosures that are fairly large are the norm these days rather than small individual habitats. This photo shows what appears to be modern, cleaner versions of what was originally in place, and how many rooms or galleries will there be to the entire structure? When the Bird House first opened in 1962 it took up three-quarters of an acre (0.30 hectares) and contained a staggering 181 aviaries. I can already picture zoo nerds salivating, although I am not sure at how impressive the actual exhibits were over 50 years ago!
    • reduakari
      Not to pile on, or to invite the usual chastisement for "critiquing exhibits you haven't seen in person," but.....I would suggest these aviaries don't even come up to the level of "traditional diorama-style exhibition." Dioramas at least try to suggest something about habitat, through interior furnishings and/or backdrop murals. These appear to just be what they are: simple bird cages, and lots of them.

      No doubt the expert aviculturists at Berlin will be able to exhibit many rarities and breed many species in these perfectly functional enclosures. But for all but the most maniacal zoo nerds (avian enthusiast subspecies), this is going to be one of those, "okay, I've seen enough birds, where are the monkeys?" kind of experiences. Amazing to see something like this being built in the 21st century.
    • Maguari
      Haven't seen it yet in person, but seems to me that, like a lot at the Berlins, it's an animal exhibit that's about the animals, not about how clever the designer is. There's more than enough room for a few of those (as well as for more elaborate designs, of course).

      As these are indoor quarters for birds with outside aviaries as well, presumably the outdoor areas will be more 'designed' anyway.

      Having said all that - I'm quite surprised there isn't a little more imagination on the cage interiors here.
    • sooty mangabey
      Please forgive the long response, but lots of very interesting points made...

      They vary in size, although none are enormous. They're not glass, incidentally - the frontages are mesh.

      These aren't really "dioramas" as such - rather, a series of very traditional cages in which a large number of bird species will be displayed. This house does have several large walk-through sections as well.

      Yes, I think that's a fair analysis. For some of us this is high praise indeed, for others the opposite will be true! There are four rooms, each with a large number of aviaries. There won't be 181 aviaries, but having visited ZSL London Zoo last week, where in the quite nice Blackburn Pavillion (their bird house) there are, I think, a total of six indoor aviaries, I can safely say that there will be more, here in Berlin.

      Yes, that's a fair comment.

      This is a very interesting point. Berlin Zoo is, essentially, filled with these sorts of houses. I would imagine that its marketing budget is tiny. And yet it still attracts three million visitors every year. Visit on a dull day, when rain is threatening, and the place is still busy. Clearly, this sort of display isn't as toxic to (non nerd) visitors as your comments suggest.

      The whole issue of what it is that people like to see is an interesting and complex one. I don't think the average visitor knows what they like looking at, and often what they enjoy on the day is down to chance (they just happen to be passing a particular enclosure when a particular thing is happening). But I do think people like that sense of plenty that Berlin engenders. I am no expert on sculpture, and when I visit the Victoria and Albert museum I usually pass through the sculpture galleries quite briskly on my way to see the galleries devoted to furniture, or architecture, or whatever. But I rather like the sense that there is a heck of a lot of sculpture there if I do decide to devote my attention to it. I suspect the same will be true of many muggle visitors to Berlin Zoo.

      This photo was taken before the house was completed, and before the birds were introduced. It shouldn't be taken as being wholly indicative of how it will look when it is fully ready (which I believe will be any day now).

      I agree, although I suspect we are using the adjective "amazing" in slightly different ways!
    • markmeier
      Some very informed opinions on here again. I thought the bird house was going to receive three walk-through-halls and that all "cages" still were to receive some "furniture". Apparently I was wrong, though. I guess I don't even have to visit the place today to form an opinion based on the actual design AFTER the house opened.

      Thanks sooty mangabey for these nice pictures and the attempts to explain them. I quite like what I see and I have seen some of the outside aviaries which seem quite decent (they include some artificial rocks as well as living plants like bushes and small trees). I think it will be a rather smashing equivalent of the Aquarium building which will be 100 years old this year. A great opportunity to get a grasp of natural diversity and some of the actual habitats at the same time. And I'm also rather glad they still build stuff like this these days.
    • DavidBrown
      What are some of the highlights of the Berlin Zoo bird collection that live in this building?
    • sooty mangabey
      At the time at which this picture was taken, none at all - it was empty! I am sure birds will have moved in by now. The Berlin collection is very large (of course), with many highlights. Kagu are very nice, as are many other species - a full list is on Zootierliste - but I am not sure what will end up in here, and what will remain elsewhere.
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  • Category:
    Berlin Zoo
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    sooty mangabey
    Date:
    9 Jun 2013
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